Media Releases

NJCAA Rules Against NMJC

2/17/2017 12:33:36 p.m. - Hobbs, NM. The NJCAA Executive Committee has ruled against New Mexico Junior College in its appeal regarding the forfeiture of three basketball games for the men’s and women’s teams and ruling that neither team can compete post-season for the 2016-17 season.

Dr. Kelvin Sharp, NMJC President, was notified of the final ruling on February 17, 2017, a week after the college filed an appeal. NMJC was first informed of penalties in a letter from the NJCAA on February 9, 2017. The college immediately filed an appeal of the ruling.

NMJC missed two reporting deadlines related to the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which triggered the NJCAA sanctions.

Sharp said, “We own this mistake in that we did not submit two reports according to NJCAA rules. At the same time, it is important to point out that we found the errors and self-reported the violations to the NJCAA. I regret that their rules are so inflexible that the organization feels it has to penalize students and coaches even when it was the college itself which called attention to the mistakes in the first place.”

“We will move forward from this situation and become stronger as a result. We have already taken steps to ensure that this kind of eligibility reporting error never occurs again,” Sharp continued.

“My concern is for our student athletes and coaches who have to bear the brunt of this penalty resulting from an administrative mistake. We are proud of these men and women, and it is a sad day when their hard work and efforts may go unrecognized on the national stage,” Sharp said.

According to the letter sent to Dr. Sharp from Bryce Roderick, President of NJCAA, a majority of the executive committee voted that the appeal be denied. The letter stated: “This ruling affirms that the initial ruling made by the NJCAA National Office was appropriate based on adopted NJCAA bylaws.”

New Mexico Junior College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for its six competitive sports: men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, golf, cross country, and track and field.

For more information: Susan Fine, Director of Communications: 575-492-2781 or sfine@nmjc.edu